Feeders that fit a small run
Three to six layers beside a vegetable patch do not need a bulk setup. Stackable feeders and a 50 kg bin that tucks into a shed corner keep feed dry and off the ground, which cuts waste and stops rats from moving in.
A three-layer run beside a Gauteng vegetable patch, a dusty Free State werf mixing broilers with layers, a damp Cape yard where drinkers stay raised and shavings stay dry. Different setups, different problems, and the shop is built around that.
Different yards, different problems. Here is what we hear most often from smallstand families, farm werf households, bantam hobbyists and people keeping their first few layers.
Three to six layers beside a vegetable patch do not need a bulk setup. Stackable feeders and a 50 kg bin that tucks into a shed corner keep feed dry and off the ground, which cuts waste and stops rats from moving in.
On a Free State werf, laying nests take a beating. Galvanised roll-away banks wash down with a hose, keep eggs out of the straw, and hold up when the coop door stays open through a dusty afternoon.
Mongoose push through gaps that look closed, and caracal test low frames at night. Tight-weave galvanised mesh, rust-treated hinges and a buried skirt are the parts that keep a flock intact.
Raised drinkers, fresh wood shavings and diatomaceous earth for mite control matter more than extra hardware when the rain settles in. Damp litter is where most winter flock trouble starts.
Bantams need shallow drinkers, low perches and small leg bands. Standard layer gear is often too big, so we keep the smaller sizes on the shelf instead of asking you to make do.
Our coop plans are drawn for smallstands and farm werf layouts, with cutting lists in millimetres and ventilation notes. First-time keepers usually start with a starter kit, a brooder plate and one of these plans.
Not sure which of these fits your yard? Look at the galvanised laying nest bank or the spring hatch incubator and brooder set and see what matches your setup.
Smallstand runs, farm werfs and bantam pens all break in different places. These are the items and plans we hand over most often when someone describes a setup like yours.
For a three-to-six hen run beside a vegetable patch, a hanging feeder keeps pellets off the soil and a sealed 50 kg bin tucks into a shed corner without drawing mice.
See the spring hatch setFree State werfs mix broilers with layers, so nests take a beating. Rust-treated galvanised banks wash down with a hose and keep eggs out of the straw.
Read the nest bank detailsRaised drinkers, dry wood shavings and diatomaceous earth for mite control do more for winter flock health on the Cape than any tonic.
Check bedding and gritMongoose push through gaps you would not notice. Tight-weave mesh, heavy latches and rust-treated hinges are the parts that fail first on a working coop.
Hardware kit for coop gapsSmall leg bands, shallow drinkers and low perches suit bantams better than full-size kit. Ask us before you cut perches to standard layer height.
New keepers usually start with a starter kit, a brooder plate and a simple coop plan with a cutting list in millimetres and ventilation notes for Highveld afternoons.
Start with the basics